Episode 100: FINALE: The World Saves Mr. Hardy

   This blog is ending. I will still be blogging, but this iteration of it, this adventure where I pretend that I'm saving the world, is coming to a close. Stay tuned for a new but different journey. Since this is episode 100, I figured this was the perfect time to end it. Believe it or not, I actually thought about ending this with episode 75, but a bolt of inspiration struck me and I decided to let it continue for 25 more episodes. I could go into why I'm ending this blog and what led to that decision, but that would end up being a lot of writing and that's not what I want this episode to be about. 

   Here's what I do want this episode to be about: those who saved me. I've spent so much time saving the world, but what about the people in the world who saved Mr. Hardy? The people who have led me through life and made me into the person I am today? This episode is about you all.

   To start with, God is to thank for everything. It is by His grace that I am still here and even able to type this. We would all do very well to remember that it is only by His stripes that we are healed.

Next, I have to talk about my family.

Dad- Everyone tells me how much I look and sound like you. And I'm glad that they see you in me. Thank you for always taking care of me, especially those years when it was just you and I and our dog (and a cat whose passing still gets me very sad sometimes) in this house. Still having you at home got me through a lot of stuff.

Mom- Thank you for always being my mom, no matter what. You've played a crucial part in making me who I am today, and no matter the distance, you've always been there for me. There are some things a man can only come to his mom for - and you never fail in playing that role for me.

Brianna- Thank you for showing me the things of growing up that only an older sibling can. There is perhaps no greater friend one can have than their sibling.

Snickerz- Thank you so much for being an adorable little bundle of joy and relief from the stresses of this world.

Grandpa- Thank you for being so kind and fun to be around, and being someone to look up to. One of the highlights of any trip to Montana is whenever I get to see you.

  Thank you to Mike for taking care of my mom and Julie for taking care of my dad. Thank you, Lane for constantly preaching the Word and providing me a place to stay when I was struggling with a job I really hated. You even gave me a guitar and my first car! And thanks to your kids, Hannah and Sam, too, for being great cousins. And Logan - you may not be actually related to me, but we've been best friends for so long that you're basically my brother at this point.

   To those I've lost - Grandma Hardy, Grandma Sue, Bill, Lucky, Zeke, and others - I miss you all the time and I hope I'm making you proud. Grandpa Hardy, I'm still sad I never got to meet you, but I'm glad I get to hear about you in memories from your children and belongings of yours.

I feel like an actor accepting an award or an author writing the acknowledgements at the end of his book.

I have to talk about some people at work too.

Tyler- It all started with you taking a chance on me and hiring me into what is now the best job I've ever had. Thanks for taking a chance on me and being a great boss, and providing a job where not only did I care enough to want to be in management, but pushed until I actually got there.

Brando- Thank you for not only being a great boss but also a great friend. You've done a great job filling in Tyler's shoes. I'm still incredibly grateful for you promoting me and working with me and I hope I'm making you and the others in management proud.

Andrew- You may not work there anymore, but it's definitely not the same without you. But I'm glad we're both happy in our respective places. You're the best work friend I've ever had, as well as one of my best friends I've had in general.

  Thanks to other co-workers who all the time make this job enjoyable. I won't say more names, because I don't know how willing they are for me to say their name here, but those I'm close to at work know I appreciate them.

  My passions have also saved me, like my loves for music, superheroes, books, tv, and movies. Dan Smith, Brandon Flowers, and many others have made music that has gotten me through life. Along with a lot of actors, authors, filmmakers and such with their work.

   I know many of the people I'm thanking here will never read this. But I still feel like I need to express my gratitude for them. Thank you for saving Mr. Hardy and allowing him to save the world.

See you next week.